Durga Saptashati Path (9 days)

There is nothing that Goddess Shakti can not bless her devotees with, why is why they go to great lengths to appease the goddess. Durga Saptashati which is also known as Chandi Path and Devi Mahatmya is a sacred and powerful text that describes the triumph of the Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. It is a part of the Markandeya Purana, written by sage Markandeye.

It is a composition of Saptashata or 700 verses and because of that whole composition is known as Durga Saptashati. A good many of devotees are confused as to how to recite the powerful text , which adhyaya (chapter) needs to be chanted on which day etc.

There are two methods to read Durga Saptashati :

• Trayangam
• Navangam

Trayangam is a method in which we need to chant three prayers which are

• Devi Kavacham
• Argala strotam
• Devi Keelkam followed by Navakshari Mantram

In Navangam method, before one starts reading the book, nine prayers are recited. Navangam stotrams are:

• Devi Nyasa
• Devi Avahana
• Devi Namani
• Argala Stotram
• Keelaka Strotam
• Devi Hrudaya
• Dhala
• Devi Dyana
• Devi Kavacha

As the ancient scriptures describe, Devi Mahatamya should be read in one sitting. After finishing the recital of Devi Mahatamya, one should chant the Devi Suktam ( slokas 7 to 36 of Chapter 8)

There are many other ways to read Durga Saptashati but the most famous one is to read it during Navratra Durga Puja in 10 days. Here is the procedure to read Devi Mahatmyam during Navratri.

How to read Durga Saptsathi (Devi Mahatmayam) during Navratri festival

1^st Day : Chapter 1 ( Madhu Kaitabha vadha )

2^nd Day : Chapter 2, 3 and 4 ( Mahishhasura samhaara)

3^rd Day : Chapter 5 and 6 ( Dhuumralochanna samhaaram)

4^th Day : Chapter 7 (Chand Mund vadh)

5^th Day : Chapter 8 (Rakta biija vadhaa)

6^th Day : Chapter 9 and 10 (Shumbha Nishumbha samhaaram )

7^th Day : Chapter 11 ( Praise of Narayani)

8^th Day : Chapter 12 ( Phalastuti – reciting merits or benefits)

9^th Day : Chapter 13 (Blessings to the Merchant and Suratha)

10^th Day : Chapter 14 ( Aparadha kshamprarthana)